Ryoko & Daniel, Berlin
Words by Elisha Kennedy
Images by Claire Cottrell
Ryoko and her partner Daniel run Berlin’s popular Senses Salon. It’s a space from which Ryoko sells her own skincare line and offers therapies such as remedial massage and facials, as well as meditation workshops and a host of community events. They live in a small space behind the salon, which is where we learn more about the pair – on this afternoon Daniel is preparing incense with a special charcoal and wood, and Ryoko shares with us her homemade miso whilst showing us how to make one of her oils.
In your own words, tell us about what you do.
I am a manual therapist and with my partner Daniel, we have got a little universe called “senses salon” where I not only give personal treatments, but we also host workshops in collaboration with other experts, focusing on some other great methods in holistic healing; zen meditation, tea ceremonies, experimental evenings or creative and traditional hands-on workshops.
We also have a shop where we curate organic objects, scents such as perfumes I create out of all natural ingredients, or incense, as well as handmade ceramics, Japanese tea and artisanal items.
We do all of this as a way of sharing our passions and pleasures with our community!
Can you share with us a bit about your journey to becoming a remedial massage therapist?
I actually studied fashion design initially and used to work in the fashion industry. My first passion was designers fashion, especially designers in Japan in the 80s and Belgium in the 90s. Meanwhile I was also interested in learning more about the connection between body and mind, but I couldn’t imagine how this interest would become one day my job…
I guess it’s because whilst working in Japan in fashion I was finding it so hard and I hardly had time for myself, I started to think what I really wanted to do in my life. Then, I quit my job and had a chance to learn manual therapies. Later I moved to Sydney to gain back an equilibrium in work and life. There I studied remedial massage therapy, but ironically these years were pretty intense as I got back to the school life every day and was learning complex new subjects such as anatomy and physiology, on top of running a new business, which was a little Designer second hand store I had.
I remember how excited I was to work on and with the body when I was starting out. It’s a totally new experience: as if I had never used that part of brain before, and was embracing each moment. I knew it would be my new life and passion.
What are some of the things that you love about living in Berlin?
Berlin is very international, liberal, alternative and a pretty easy-going city overall – it is full of interesting ideas and people, which creates a dynamic atmosphere. Sometimes it feels like Berlin is a big cultural centre, but at the same time it’s like a small village especially our neighborhood, Kreuzkölln.
If you have a concrete plan and discipline, Berlin is a great place to realize your dream.
Berlin is very international, liberal, alternative and a pretty easy-going city overall – it is full of interesting ideas and people, which creates a dynamic atmosphere. Sometimes it feels like Berlin is a big cultural centre, but at the same time it’s like a small village especially our neighborhood, Kreuzkölln.
We are focusing on the senses, which requires a non-logical, non-analytic, present-mode brain, which we don’t actually develop so much nowadays as we have a full headspace of information and judgements. We would like to explore and celebrate the capacity of our senses and share it with our community in a very organic way. We believe that this will help improve our health and benefit the world overall really!
What sort of beauty products do you personally use for rituals of self-care?
I use my original skin care products. All natural and most of them are organic. I especially love the “Precious Oil – Organic Elixir” made out of Japanese camellia (Tsubaki) and pure Damask rose oils. Tsubaki has been used in Japanese beauty rituals for centuries. This elixir always improves my mood, even after a long, difficult day.
I am not a morning person and I do love sleeping in. So I don’t do so many things in the morning – just slowly wake up, make some matcha tea. Our recent favorite thing is to call our friends over to share a hot Japanese breakfast together at our place. We have discovered that it is much nicer for our social life for now to catch up over breakfast than dinner and staying up until late.
Our recent favorite thing is to call our friends over to share a hot Japanese breakfast together at our place.
Do you have a bedtime routine?
Not really, but most of time I am in bed by 11 or 12 as my work is pretty physical.
What does your ideal Sunday look like?
Sometime I have some sessions on Sundays but if not, going to the flea market or zen meditation in the morning. I also love taking a bath in the middle of afternoon and treating myself with aromatherapy.
Featured above:__IN BED linen duvet set in Navy
What are you looking forward to?
Our next trip to Japan, I haven’t been back for 8 years now..!
See more from Ryoko here.